Mr. David Forestier, CAC, CIP, NCRC-I Certified Addictions Counselor
David was raised in the Bronx, New York by a family who wouldn’t put up with his addiction and all the chaos and heartbreak that came with it. Their healthy boundaries were a big part of catapulting David into recovery. David brings an outstanding 30 plus years of personal recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, 10 years of professional experience in recovery support services, and eight years experience as director of a residential school for troubled teenagers. Today, David is a Nationally Certified Intervention Practitioner (NCIP) a Nationally Certified Recovery Coach (NCRC-I), & a Florida Board Certified Addiction Counselor a trained professional who truly cares. 941.444.6560
Mr. Cole Young, CAC Certified Addictions Counselor
Cole Young is a empathetic counselor who specializes in empowering individuals to overcome their personal struggles with addictions in all forms. He has been active in the therapeutic community since 2005 when he worked as a adolescent counselor at a boarding school for troubled teenagers. In years since, he has worked as a sober companion and recovery coach for teenagers and adults struggling with substance abuse. His years of experience in recovery, personally and professionally, inform an effective approach to treatment. His professional credentials include a Certification in Addictions Counseling by the Florida Certification Board. 941.444.6560
Mrs. Smith Tilka RMHC, NBCC Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
I am excited to be on this path of self-development and self-awareness with all my clients. Being a part of a client’s process and witnessing their growth is one of the most fulfilling aspects of what I do.
Actually, this is why I got into the counseling field in the first place: to help others believe in themselves and process through their life’s challenging situations. I have been in the helping profession for over 8 years supporting clients as they process through their traumas, addictions, phases of life, and family of origin issues. I look forward to being a part of your journey as well.
As an existential therapist, I believe that life is a journey of focusing and balancing one’s purpose, meaning, freedom and responsibility. Sometimes we all need some help processing through the potential conditions of the human condition, such as being comfortable as our authentic selves or becoming aware of the many possibilities for oneself. For me, focusing on one’s developmental patterns throughout their lifetime is just as important as what happened to them during our childhood. However, I do incorporate attachment theory’s principles into my conceptualization process. Our attachment styles as children, indeed, play a pivotal role in the relational patterns in one’s current relationships. Incorporating these concepts into the therapeutic process helps to reveal patterns in one’s life as well as helps clients discover what is meaningful and purposeful to them. If you would like to set up an initial consultation please call me at
941.623.6035 or you may email me at smithmtilka@gmail.com
Mr. John Lopez, RMHCI, LMHC, CAP Licensed Mental Health Counselor Certified Addiction Professional &
John has been working in the recovery field for over 10 years assisting adult men/women with substance use disorders. John is the Program Manager of a 90 bed long-term treatment center in Sarasota. John specializes in Anger management, addictions and trauma. John has taught life skills in prisons and jails across Florida and has worked with troubled youth as a youth pastor. John is a member of (AMCHA) American Mental Health Counselors Association and a (NCC) National Certified Counselor. John understands the cycle of addiction and how to break free from its grip on individuals both in a professional and personal way. John works with Spanish speaking clients and understands Latino culture and the barriers that these individuals face due to lack of proficiency in the English language. 941.527.9074
Testimonials:
My young adult son has dissociative disorder. Finding John Lopez was a godsend. DID is a complicated issue and compounding it was my son's past trauma experiences and addiction. After struggling for years to get my son to agree to therapy (having experienced several therapists who did more damage than good), we were desperate to find a therapist who would help. DID is not a well known disorder and John is very knowledgeable on the subject. My son immediately connected to John and more surprisingly opened up to him from the start. John is incredible. He is gentle and compassionate and also straight forward. My son feels safe with him and respects him, and if he tries to manipulate the session, John pulls him back to reality. John also helped me understand my son's issues so I could better support him at home. He also guided us in repairing a very broken mother and son relationship. I have nothing but thanks and the utmost respect for John Lopez.
- Debra A.
Jennifer Burke BA, MS, RMCHI Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern & Master Life Coach
Engaging and genuinely interested in people. This is what I thrive on. Learning what is meaningful to my clients, and encouraging individuals to live genuine, authentic and fulfilling lives are my driving principles. It is my goal to discover what is most important to my client; their goals, their values, and what will fuel their resilience to tolerate and navigate change, uncomfortable feelings, and difficult conversations with healthy boundaries, clarity, confidence and kindness.
Person-centered therapy and Motivational Interviewing are cornerstones to integrating a process that brings individuals to the gift of their lives. Discovery, enlightenment, growth and balance can be achieved.
You may contact me directly at 203.216.8607
Ms. Christina Ercoli RMHCI, NBCC Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, National Cert. Counsler
As we journey through life, it’s common to experience obstacles that challenge us. As one faces various difficulties, intense emotions and thoughts can intrude and consume our lives. It can be a powerful step to allow someone into your space to help you carry that burden. Therapy can help you explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while learning necessary skills to support your personal goals. I believe in an individualized approach where the relationship between the client and therapist is most important. My therapeutic style includes creating a compassionate and nurturing environment to help my clients gain comfortability. In turn, this helps to create long-lasting personal change.
My clinical training includes five years of counseling individuals struggling with mental health and addiction. I am trained in group and individual therapy, in both residential and outpatient settings. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in mental health and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Congratulations on taking action and beginning the process for change. I look forward to hearing from you and can’t wait to you!
You may contact me at 860.417.8664 or email me at ercolic1@gmail.com
